13 Hours: the Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) [Blu-ray]
Action | Drama | Thriller | War
From director Michael Bay, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi is the gripping true story of six elite ex-military operators assigned to protect the CIA who fought back against overwhelming odds when terrorists attacked a U.S. diplomatic
compound on September 11, 2012. When everything went wrong, six men had the courage to do what was right. Based on the nonfiction book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi by New York Times bestselling author Mitchell Zuckoff
and Members of the Annex Security Team.
Storyline: As an American ambassador is killed during an attack at a U.S. compound in Libya, a security team struggles to make sense out of the chaos.
Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, June 2, 2016 Newfound respect for Michael Bay. The divisive filmmaker known for his flashy popcorn blockbusters has finally made a movie that goes beyond raw entertainment value,
crafting a picture of substance and authenticity centered around one of the defining moments in modern American history and global politics. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi sees Bay move beyond not his trademark grand scope or scale but
certainly the empty noise and narratives that have defined many of his movies, from Transformers to Bad Boys. With this film, he finds a balance heretofore absent in his pictures. He doesn't quite shy completely away from his signature flash
-- he can't help himself, at times, and during the final assault on the compound near film's end in particular -- but he's crafted, within the core of his basic parameters, an engaging, effective venture in which his style is complimentary to the movie
rather than a movie that's a slave to it. Based on the book of the same name by Mitchell Zuckoff and doing its best to tell the truest story it can from the events of that September night in Benghazi, Bay's picture is a tribute to the men who fought and
died there, a testament to the power of wartime filmmaking, and a mostly tonally impressive experience that engages the individual mind and the world scene alike.
Michael Bay's biggest challenge in 13 Hours is keeping the audience engaged even considering the predetermined outcome. Many, if not most, in the audience know the names and the fates of several characters coming into the movie, but 13 Hours
isn't so much about narrative details as it is rather sharing the experience, demonstrating it in tangible clarity, and highlighting the messy details of both the firefights and the underlying social and political underpinnings that defined the event. In
that arena, Bay succeeds. He capably constructs enough narrative pull, dramatic punch, and effective filmmaking to keep the audience involved in a well known story. He manages to draw the audience into every scene. There's a very real and very frightening
sense of personal engagement, first as the nervous anticipation of the attack looms large over the first 45 minutes and on through the next 90 or so minutes of practically nonstop intensity as the story of the attack emerges and eventually draws to a head
at the Annex. It's all underscored by the movie's simple but compelling demonstration of humanity that depicts several key characters communicating with their loved ones back home, and as the night wears on and the raw emotions slowly rise to the
surface.
The one area where the movie stumbles, however, is in how it draws its characters. Introductions are quick and, particularly as night approaches and the battles begin, the sheer chaos leaves many of the characters in a scramble. It's not always clear as
to who is where and doing what. The maelstrom of gunfire, quick cuts, darkness, and rapidly evolving landscape often leave the audience struggling to keep up. In that way, Bay manages to recreate a frenzied chaos. On the other hand, it diminishes some of
the work the film previously accomplished with its characterizations. The same holds true in many scenes for the characters as they struggle to determine friend or foe. The film uses the language barrier to excellent effect as roadblocks, convoys, and
clusters of armed men are often ambiguous to the men, whether they're the friendly "17 Feb" fighters or the attackers who wish them harm. 13 Hours creates an enormously effective fog of war, though whether it's too effective for the greater
narrative is up for debate. The one constant, however, is why. "Why" is a question that looms large over the movie, largely as it pertains to the stand down order and the inability of those on the ground to secure reinforcements from nearby quick
reaction forces, call in armed air support, or even flyovers to, maybe, scare the enemy from conducting further attacks. That frustration is tangible and paramount to the story, and Bay's ability to weave that frustration so deeply into the already
frenzied narrative only helps solidify the movie's mission of recreating the night in all of its physical and mental anguish alike.
13 Hours is also a technical marvel. It's extraordinarily well done, defined by several signature Bay elements that remain, such as the quick cuts, a hot canvas, and occasionally over-stylized action scenes. But it's not so overdone, so awash in
"Bayhem" that the movie loses its edge or its serious façade is lessened. This is Michael Bay at his most balanced, in a way a stretch for the filmmaker who is up to the challenge of stepping beyond his comfort zone, who shows a capability to make
thematically substantial, and not just sight-and-sound, cinema. As one would expect, production values soar. The movie's sense of combat authenticity rivals all of the best of its kind. It's violent and involved. It oozes a sense of place and time down to
the finest details across the board, from local flavor to combat gear. Performances are excellent. Even as the characters aren't as well defined as they could, and should, have been, and even as they tend to get lost in the chaos, all of the key actors
find a tangible, realistic edge to them, both in terms of how they carry themselves in combat and as they display the increasing physical and, perhaps more important, emotional burdens that come to define them through the course of the movie.
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a movie with staying power. It's no doubt destined to be remembered as one of the modern warfare classics for its impressive technical merits but, more importantly, reproduction of a proud but, at the
same time, damning moment in modern history. The film shies away from overt political commentary, but there's no mistaking its stance. Above all of that, however, it's an honest tribute to those who lived and died. The film deserves to be remembered in
the same breath as the similarly constructed and themed Black Hawk Down. Paramount's Blu-ray release of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi delivers superb video, refined and engaging audio, and a solid supplemental content package.
Very highly recommended.
[CSW] -3.3- This reviewer said it better than I could: This is an amazing movie. Sometimes we have to rely on Hollywood to get the true story and this is one of those times since our leaders were too concerned about the politics of the
tragedy. It is astounding that "only" four Americans died that night as we see repeated violent terrorist attacks throughout the night. I think we all owe it to our military and foreign contractors to see 13 HOURS and better understand what they endure
(not only from the attackers but from the bureaucracy of rules of engagement and lack of support up the line). The actual men who are portrayed in this movie would overwhelm you with their love of country and devotion to each other. This is a fast paced,
continually exciting portrayal - don't miss it!!
With that said; this movie is well done as it presents a picture of the USA's action and interaction with countries in the Middle-East and the stupidity of the USA's agencies that interact in the ongoing meddling with the strife and governments of that
area. The Benghazi incident should have never happened. Although the ambassador was an outstanding person trying to do good things he went beyond logical safety limits in doing so; the State Dept and Pentagon were clueless and didn't act in due diligence
in guaranteeing the safety of the USA people in-country. Plus the ridiculous US Congress that cut funding for their capabilities. An Ambassador is usually at US Embassies and not stationed at Consulates. There are enough mistakes and blame to go
around.
Additionally: Throwing out any and all known political and ethical issues this movie is one great Rambo type movie and is very satisfying in its portrayal of what a small but well trained, well-armed, and determined group of solders can
accomplish. It is a bit reminiscent of the mentality and make-up of the 300 Spartans in their "Battle of Thermopylae" but with a slightly better outcome.
[V4.5-A5.0] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box.
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